Move to Winnetka, CA : Is It a Good Place to Raise a Family? HELP!!!

I live close by and will probably move to Winnetka or Reseda about the same time. Some parts of Winnetka are nicer and a bit safer than others but I wouldn't worry too much about it. Parts of Canoga Park are less safe. Like I said that is the area that I'm looking at also.

My kids are teenagers so I don't have the other info you're looking for but I do have a suggestion for doctors. We belong to Kaiser which is on DeSoto, not far from Winnetka. People either love or hate Kaiser Permanente. I fall into former. They provide great care for all members of the family and everything is in the same facility (famly med, pediatrics, lab, physical therapy, pharmacies, specialists, urgent care, emergency room, etc). I had both of my kids there and I had very successful jaw surgery there in January. If you have the opportunity to join them, I'd consider it. If you do I can recommend good doctors for you. Just PM me.

I live pretty close to Winnetka. We go to Valley Pediatrics at 5353 Balboa Blvd, Suite 104, Encino, CA. It's only a few miles east of Winnetka right where Balboa Blvd meets the 101 Freeway. There are several doctors there - all very good. ###-###-####. Dr. Medawar is our primary doctor who we see for yearly visits but we see whoever is available for emergencies or illnesses throughout the year.

I don't belong to any mom's groups - I have a 10 year old son and he does playdates with friends from school - but I would suggest looking at woman's groups at the local churches or synagogues - depending on your preference. There is also MyGym in Encino - they have playgroups for small kids and we met some nice families there. Also check out Jenslist.com. It is a website that gives mother's advice, provides info on different groups, babysitters, things to do, etc. Jen's oldest son is one of my son's best friends so it is a legitimate site and she helped me find my babysitter.

For GYN I go to Woman's Medical Group in Santa Monica at 2121 Wilshire Blvd. ###-###-#### - I don't know anyone in the Valley.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your move.

Hi there, I used to live there years and years ago. Safe is about where exactly you will be living and the actual neighborhood. My son was a newborn when I lived there. He is now 24 and we raised him in the Santa Clarita Valley which is only 30 minutes away. The pediatricians group that I would recommend is Pediatric affiliates in West Hills and there are quite a few good Ob/GYN's out there too. If I was younger and still had infants, I'd love to connect with you. My youngest is 10 now. But I hope that you love California.

For all medical dr's go to West Hills Hospital. You are just 10 min away from the medical center. Dr Martin Fineberg for pediatrician. Dr John Collier for OBGYN. There is a after hours pediatrician on Ventura Blvd for times child is sick when regular dr is closed. Close to Von's, Ralph's, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods grocery store. Topanga Mall is a good place which Target is at. Walmart is on Fallbrook st which is 10 min. Plenty of 99 cents stores. You are very close to alot of other places. Good luck.

Hi -
I live in Tarzana which is right next door to Winnetka. I'll drive by where you are thinking of today and report back. I'll also give you a list of all that you are looking for but I don't have time right at this moment. I'll follow up with you soon and welcome to sunny LA!!!!
L.
Hi again!
So the area you are looking into is a nice one. LA is full of great little pockets that might have some not so great neighborhoods near by. Where I live, south of Victory and either west or east of Tampa has some great neighborhoods also.
As for OBGYN in addition to drs at West Hills Tarzana Hospital is great and had has some excellent drs.
Dr. Joie Russo ###-###-####
Dr. Rebecca Perlow - ###-###-####
if you only need a GYN try
Dr. Ian Taras ###-###-####
for pediatricians try
Dr. Linda Adatto ###-###-#### (she is in a group and the other drs are great too)
Dr. Jeremy Shapiro - ###-###-#### - www.boulevardpediatrics.com
(also in a group with other good drs)
Contact Moms Club International - they have local playgroups in the area and monthly events - it is the best way to meet other moms with kids the same age, if you do not click with the moms in your area then try another group close by
www.momsclub.org
Also, A Mother's Haven in encino has mommy & me classes
http://www.shopthehaven.com/
I hope this is helpful!
L.
btw - my husband is from Pittsburgh (go Steelers!) and I have a 13 year old duaghter

Hi A.,

Winnetka is a decent area, but quite honestly, your husband's drive to Burbank will be just as bad from Winnetka as it would be from Santa Clarita. In L.A., it's not an issue of distance -- it's a matter of traffic patterns, and living in either of these places, figure that the commute to Burbank will be at least an hour, each way, through really nasty traffic. I suggest you take a look at sigalert.com for the L.A. and Glendale/Pasadena areas, so you can see what the traffic patterns are like from 6AM to 9AM, and again from 2PM - 8PM. In some respects, it might actually be easier to live in Santa Clarita and take the 210 to Burbank. Alternatively, I would consider living closer to Burbank. Valley Village is a nice area.